Databases : Sorting

Most databases will let you sort data so that it is displayed in a particular order. To sort a database into an order you must specify :

• Which field in the database you wish to use to order the records. This will usually be the primary key field.
• Whether you want the records in ascending (going up) or descending (going down) order.

Sometimes you may wish to use more than one field to sort a database. For example if a database contained a list of names and addresses then you might choose to sort it by surname. However some people will have the same surname, so you may decide to tell the computer that if two people have the same surname they should be put in order by their forenames.

If you do this then the fields that you choose to use to sort the database are known as the 1st sort field, 2nd sort field and so on.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004